Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 18, 2019 20:59:34 GMT 12
"MERCY" FLYING
AUCKLANDER AT AKYAB
EVACUATION OF WOUNDED
(R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) NEW DELHI, Jan. 16
"It was not the sight of Japanese gun emplacements and strong-points, but shoals of basking sharks moving through the water less than half a mile from our men that made me thankful that the landing was straightforward," said Flying-Officer D. W. Chapman, R.N.Z.A.F., an Aucklander, who was over the liberation forces at Akyab on D Day. "I am glad I saw the crowded beaches with lines of little ships smoking like toy motor-boats fussing about on parkland at home."
While engaged on ambulance flying during the landing on Akyab Island, Flying-Officer Chapman landed and took off with wounded British and West African troops from jungle clearings in lulls between mortar fire. Pitched battles were going on less than 400 yds away.
He evacuated between 30 and 40 men in nearly 190 "mercy" flying hours. Flying-Officer Chapman piloted an Auster aircraft at Akyab, It is a small unarmed single-engined monoplane of English manufacture. His experiences range from shipping protection in the Mediterranean to strafing Japanese in Central Burma and casualty evacuation in the Kaladan. He stated that the Akyab mission would probably be his first-last job of the kind in Burma, as hi.s three-year tour was nearly up.
Flying-Officer D. W. Chapman
AUCKLANDER AT AKYAB
EVACUATION OF WOUNDED
(R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) NEW DELHI, Jan. 16
"It was not the sight of Japanese gun emplacements and strong-points, but shoals of basking sharks moving through the water less than half a mile from our men that made me thankful that the landing was straightforward," said Flying-Officer D. W. Chapman, R.N.Z.A.F., an Aucklander, who was over the liberation forces at Akyab on D Day. "I am glad I saw the crowded beaches with lines of little ships smoking like toy motor-boats fussing about on parkland at home."
While engaged on ambulance flying during the landing on Akyab Island, Flying-Officer Chapman landed and took off with wounded British and West African troops from jungle clearings in lulls between mortar fire. Pitched battles were going on less than 400 yds away.
He evacuated between 30 and 40 men in nearly 190 "mercy" flying hours. Flying-Officer Chapman piloted an Auster aircraft at Akyab, It is a small unarmed single-engined monoplane of English manufacture. His experiences range from shipping protection in the Mediterranean to strafing Japanese in Central Burma and casualty evacuation in the Kaladan. He stated that the Akyab mission would probably be his first-last job of the kind in Burma, as hi.s three-year tour was nearly up.
Flying-Officer D. W. Chapman
